Player Updates

Scott will continue to be developed as a starting pitcher and will open the year at Triple-A Norfolk, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 23-year-old lefty has the stuff to be a dominant reliever (big fastball, power slider), but the Orioles have very few high-upside starting pitching prospects in their system, so they will shoot for the moon with Scott. He notched a 2.22 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 87 strikeouts in 69 innings at Double-A last season, but he was held to three innings per start. Developing a quality third pitch and sufficient command will be imperative for him to make it as a starter.

Scott made his MLB debut Wednesday against Boston, allowing a pair of runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one in an eventful eighth inning.

In his first big-league game, the left-hander unveiled a 100 mph fastball, and a devastating slider that got Deven Marrero swinging and missing on three straight pitches. A broken bat single and a slow reaction by Scott to cover first base led to some avoidable damage. Manager Buck Showalter was pleased with the prospect's overall outing, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports. "As advertised," Showalter said." About like I thought it would be. The slider has come a long way for him. ... His presentation was good. He didn't always show it. He's always been that type of guy. That's what's intriguing about him."

Scott, who's expected to develop into a big-league closer, said being used in a limited starter's role this season at Double-A Bowie allowed him extended time to develop his offspeed pitches, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

Scott's fastball typically sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, but he has no problem clocking in at triple digits routinely. Instead of using him as a minor-league reliever, the Orioles opted to start the left-hander in three-inning stints, giving Scott five or six days of rest in between. "Well, with the short starts, you can never win, but it was good. I developed my offspeed more," Scott said. "It was a good experience and I'm glad they did it and I'll see what they want me to do now."

As planned, Scott is headed up to the big club for the first time in his career. Although he served as a starter with Bowie, where he logged a 2.22 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 24 games, it's expected that he'll work out of the bullpen during his first stint in the majors. In a corresponding move, Richard Rodriguez was designated for assignment.

Scott is expected to be called up by the Orioles this weekend, MASN reports.

Scott is considered one of the top prospects in the Orioles' organization, so the team decided his addition to the roster for the stretch run wouldn't hurt. He worked as a starter this year, but the Orioles monitored his innings, so it's likely he will work out of the bullpen with the big club.